Method and apparatus for saving power of portable electronic device

ABSTRACT

A method of saving the power of a portable electronic device is provided. The method includes starting a power saving mode, identifying an application executed in a foreground, and changing operation settings of the portable electronic device for the identified application.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is a continuation application of prior application No.14/644,493, filed on Mar. 11, 2015, which claims the benefit under 35U.S.C. §119(a) of a Korean patent application filed on Mar. 12, 2014 inthe Korean Intellectual Property Office and assigned Serial number10-2014-0028938, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporatedby reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a method and an apparatus for savingthe power of a portable electronic device.

BACKGROUND

In recent years, portable electronic devices have been widely used basedon mobility. In particular, among them, mobile communication terminalsfor voice communication between two parties are very popular, so much sothat almost all people use them. Meanwhile, a mobile communicationterminal may have various other functions as well. For example, a mobilecommunication terminal may support an MP3 audio player function, and maysupport an image collection function by which images can be collected.The portable electronic device supports a mobile game or an arcade game.

In this way, a battery usage level rapidly increases to support variousfunctions of the portable electronic device, and accordingly, batteryusage time tends to decrease. In addition, an integration of componentsinto the portable electronic device is increasing such that the portableelectronic device supports various functions while maintaining a slimsize. The increase in integration decreases space for the emission ofheat, and the portable electronic device is vulnerable to damage due tothe emission of heat. Accordingly, the portable electronic devicerequires a suitable measure for decreasing battery usage level andimproving heat emission.

The above information is presented as background information only toassist with an understanding of the present disclosure. No determinationhas been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the abovemight be applicable as prior art with regard to the present disclosure.

SUMMARY

In order to address the problems, according to the related art, menusfor four power saving schemes such as Central Processing Unit (CPU)power saving, screen power saving, adjustment of a background of ascreen, and a turning on/off of a haptic reaction of the portableelectronic device are set to control a power saving operation.

Meanwhile, the power saving operation according to the related art iscollectively applied to all applications executed in the portableelectronic device in the same way. Accordingly, when the user executesapplications to which a set power saving menu is not desired to beapplied, power saving settings should be turned off. In addition, evenif a power saving operation is controlled through the four menus, theeffect of improving the usage time of a battery is insufficient.

Aspects of the present disclosure are to address at least theabove-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at leastthe advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the presentdisclosure is to provide a method and an apparatus for saving the powerof a portable electronic device in which various power saving operationscan be executed for each executed application.

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, a method ofsaving the power of a portable electronic device is provided. The methodincludes starting a power saving mode, identifying an application beingexecuted in a foreground, and changing operation settings of theportable electronic device for the identified application.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a portableelectronic device is provided. The portable electronic device includes acontroller configured to start a power saving mode, to identify anapplication being executed in a foreground, and to change operationsetting of the identified application.

As discussed above, the method and apparatus for saving the power of aportable electronic device according to various embodiments of thepresent disclosure can set a plurality of power saving levels accordingto an application and change operation settings to a preset power savinglevel if a power saving mode is started, thereby improving the emissionof heat and decreasing battery usage level.

Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the disclosure willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings,discloses various embodiments of the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certainembodiments of the present disclosure will be more apparent from thefollowing description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a portableelectronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart explaining a method of saving the power of aportable electronic device according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart explaining a method of selecting a power savingmode of a portable electronic device according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure; and

FIG. 4 is a view explaining a method of selecting a power saving mode ofa portable electronic device according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

Throughout the drawings, it should be noted that like reference numbersare used to depict the same or similar elements, features, andstructures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Prior to a description of various embodiments of the present disclosure,it is noted that a power saving mode refers to a setting for improvingheat emission of a portable electronic device and reducing a batteryusage level according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings isprovided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of variousembodiments of the present disclosure as defined by the claims and theirequivalents. It includes various specific details to assist in thatunderstanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary.Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize thatvarious changes and modifications of the various embodiments describedherein can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of thepresent disclosure. In addition, descriptions of well-known functionsand constructions may be omitted for clarity and conciseness.

The terms and words used in the following description and claims are notlimited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by theinventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the presentdisclosure. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in theart that the following description of various embodiments of the presentdisclosure is provided for illustration purpose only and not for thepurpose of limiting the present disclosure as defined by the appendedclaims and their equivalents.

It is to be understood that the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the”include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.Thus, for example, reference to “a component surface” includes referenceto one or more of such surfaces.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a portableelectronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 1, a portable electronic device 100 according to anembodiment of the present disclosure may include a wirelesscommunication unit 110, a touch screen 120, a haptic module 130, asensor unit 140, a power management unit 150, a storage unit 160, and acontroller 170.

The wireless communication unit 110 may form a communication channel ofa preset scheme with a network (mobile communication network) which cantransmit/receive a signal related to wireless communication, such asvoice communication or video communication, and message service-baseddata communication such as a Short Message Service (SMS), a MultimediaMessaging Service (MIMS), or Internet. The wireless communication unit110 may include a transceiver for up-converting and amplifying thefrequency of a transmitted signal, and low-noise amplifying anddown-converting a frequency of a received signal. The wirelesscommunication unit 110 may form a data communication channel for amessage service to transmit/receive message service-based data under thecontrol of the controller 170. Here, the communication channel mayinclude a mobile communication channel such as Code Division MultipleAccess (CDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), and OrthogonalFrequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), and an Internetcommunication channel such as a wired Internet network and a wirelessInternet network.

The touch screen 120 may provide various screens used for operation ofthe portable electronic device 100. For example, the touch screen maysupport a standby screen and a menu screen used for management of theportable electronic device 100. The touch screen may include a touchpanel 121 and a display panel 123. The touch panel 121 may beimplemented by being fixed to the display panel 123 or integrated intothe display panel 123.

The touch panel 121 may generate a touch event in response to a user'stouch gesture for the screen, may perform an Analog-to-Digital (AD)conversion on the touch event, and may transmit the touch event to thecontroller 170. The touch panel 121 may be a complex touch panelincluding a hand touch panel for detecting a hand gesture and a pentouch panel for detecting a pen gesture. Here, the hand touch panel maybe implemented by a capacitive type. Of course, the hand touch panel maybe implemented by a resistive type, an infrared type, or a surfaceacoustic wave type.

The display panel 123 may display data on the screen under the controlof the controller 170. If the controller 170 processes (for example,decodes) data and stores the processed data in a buffer, the displaypanel 123 may convert the buffered data into an analog signal anddisplay the analog signal.

In the embodiment of the present disclosure, when the portableelectronic device 100 starts a power saving mode, the display panel 123may display a screen in which settings of an operation, such as adisplay refresh rate, a brightness, or a resolution, of an executedapplication, in particular, an application executed in a foreground canbe changed. In more detail, if the portable electronic device 100 startsa power saving mode, the display panel 123 may display a screen in whichdisplay data transmission rate, brightness, and resolution have beenchanged according to a preset power saving level in response to anapplication executed under the control of the controller 170. Here, apower saving level indicates an operation state (for example, operationfrequencies of the Central Processing Unit (CPU) and the GraphicProcessing Unit (GPU), display data transmission rate, brightness, andresolution) for at least one application, and a plurality of powersaving levels may be set for at least one application. For example, fourpower saving levels may be classified into levels such as LOW, MIDDLE,HIGH, and AUTO. The power saving levels may be variously set accordingto settings of the user or intentions of a designer.

In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the display panel 123 mayoutput a screen for selecting a power saving level according to anapplication. In more detail, the display panel 123 may display a list ofapplications stored in the portable electronic device 100 and maydisplay a screen for setting power saving levels for the entirety orsome of the displayed applications.

The display panel 123 may be implemented by a Liquid Crystal Display(LCD), an Active Matrix Organic Light Emitted Diode (AMOLED), a PassiveMatrix Organic Light Emitted Diode (PMOLED), a flexible display, or atransparent display.

The haptic module 130 may convert an electrical signal into mechanicalvibrations. That is, the haptic module 130 may support vibrationsthrough a vibration motor according to execution of an application. Inthe embodiment of the present disclosure, the haptic module 130 may beswitched on or off for reduction of battery usage level according to apower saving level. Meanwhile, the present disclosure is not limitedthereto, and the haptic module 130 may be set such that an intensity ofa haptic reaction is different according to power saving levels.

The sensor unit 140 may measure a physical property or detect anoperational state of the portable electronic device 100, and may convertthe measured or detected information into an electrical signal. Thesensor unit 140 may include at least one of, for example, a gesturesensor, a gyro sensor, an atmosphere sensor, a magnetic sensor, anacceleration sensor, a grip sensor, a proximity sensor, a color sensor(For example, a Red, Green, and Blue (RGB) sensor), a living bodysensor, a temperature sensor 141, a humidity sensor, an illuminationintensity sensor, and a ultraviolet (UV) sensor. Additionally oralternatively, the sensor module 140 may include, for example, an E-nosesensor (not illustrated), an ElectroMyoGraphy (EMG) sensor (notillustrated), an ElectroenCephaloGram (EEG) sensor (not illustrated), anElectroCardioGram (ECG) sensor (not illustrated), an InfraRed (IR)sensor, an iris sensor (not illustrated), and a fingerprint sensor. Thesensor unit 140 may further include a control circuit for controlling atleast one sensor in the sensor unit 140.

In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the temperature sensor 141may detect a temperature of the portable electronic device 100 at apredetermined time. In more detail, the temperature sensor 141 mayinclude at least one of a temperature sensor 141 disposed at apredetermined point of a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) disposed in theportable electronic device 100, a temperature sensor 141 disposed in theinterior of or at a location adjacent to the controller 170, and atemperature sensor 141 disposed adjacent to various control units forsupporting a specific user function of the portable electronic device100 or disposed in the interiors of the control units. The temperaturesensor 141 may transmit collected temperature information to thecontroller 170. The temperature sensor 141 disposed in the interior ofthe controller 170 is disposed at a location near an ApplicationProcessor (AP) core chip and detects temperature due to emission of heatby consuming currents according to driving of an AP. Here, when thecontroller 170 additionally employs a multi-chip, for example, acommunication module chip for supporting a communication function, thetemperature sensor 141 may have a temperature sensor 141 in an adjacentarea of the corresponding communication module chip to detecttemperature information. Alternatively, the temperature sensor 141 mayhave a temperature sensor 141 in a common area of the AP chip and thecommunication module chip to detect temperature information. Inaddition, the above-described temperature sensor 141 may be disposed incontrol units for supporting a user function, for example, an imagesignal processor or a graphic support unit. As described above, thetemperature sensor 141 according to the present disclosure may have atleast one temperature sensor 141 to provide a differential voltage for atemperature to at least one of various systems of the portableelectronic device 100 according to a design scheme, and may detecttemperature information based on the function.

The power management unit 150 may manage power of the portableelectronic device 100. Although not illustrated, the power managementmodule 150 may include, for example, a Power Management IntegratedCircuit (PMIC), a charger Integrated Circuit (IC), or a battery or fuelgauge.

The PMIC may be mounted in, for example, an integrated circuit or aSystem on Chip (SoC) semiconductor. Charging methods may be classifiedinto a wired charging method and a wireless charging method. The chargerIC may charge a battery and prevent over voltage or over current fromflowing from a charger. According to an embodiment, the charger IC mayinclude a charger IC for at least one of the wired charging method andthe wireless charging method. A magnetic resonance scheme, a magneticinduction scheme, or an electromagnetic scheme may be exemplified as thewireless charging method, and an additional circuit for wirelesscharging, such as a coil loop circuit, a resonance circuit, a rectifiercircuit, and the like may be added. The battery gauge may measure, forexample, the remaining level of a battery, a voltage, a current, and atemperature of the battery during the changing thereof. The battery maystore or generate electricity and electric power may be supplied to theportable electronic device using the stored and generated electricity.The battery may include, for example, a rechargeable battery and a solarbattery.

The storage unit 160 may include any suitable storage device such as,for example, a disk, a Random Access Memory (RAM), and a flash memory.The storage unit 160 may store data generated by the portable electronicdevice 100 or data received from an external device, for example, aserver or a desktop computer through a communication unit or an externalinterface (not illustrated), including an operating system (OS) foroperating the portable electronic device 100.

In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the storage unit 160 maystore various applications 161 and a power saving level table 163.According to various embodiments, the application 161 may include anSMS/MMS application, an email application, a calendar application, analarm application, a health care application (e.g., an application formeasuring a quantity of exercise, blood sugar, etc.), and anenvironmental information application (e.g., an application forproviding information on atmospheric pressure, humidity, temperature,etc.). The application 161 may be related to the exchange of informationbetween the portable electronic device 100 and an external electronicdevice. The application related to the exchange of information mayinclude, for example, a notification relay application for notifying theexternal electronic device of specific information, and a devicemanagement application for managing the external electronic device.

For example, the notification relay application may include a functionof notifying the external device (for example, the electronic device104) of notification information generated in another application (forexample, an SMS/MMS application, an e-mail application, a healthmanagement application, or an environment information application) ofthe portable electronic device 100. Additionally or alternatively, thenotification relay application may receive notification information, forexample, from an external electronic device to provide the notificationinformation for the user. The device management application may manage(for example, install, delete, or update), for example, a function (forexample, turning on or off of the external electronic device (or somecomponents thereof) or adjustment of the brightness (or resolution) of adisplay) for at least a part of an external electronic device, anapplication operated in the external electronic device, or a service(for example, a voice communication service or a message service)provided by the external electronic device.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the devicemanagement application may include an application designated accordingto an attribute (for example, the type of the electronic device) of theexternal electronic device. For example, when the external electronicdevice is an MP3 player, the application may include an applicationrelated to playback of music. Similarly, when the external device is amobile medical instrument, the application may include an applicationrelated to management of health. According to the embodiment of thepresent disclosure, the application may include at least one of anapplication designated to the portable electronic device 100 and anapplication received from an external electronic device.

The power saving level table 163 is a table in which a plurality ofpower saving levels are set for each application stored in the storageunit 160. That is, the power saving level table 163 may be a table inwhich power saving levels for changing an operation of an applicationthat is executed in a foreground when a power saving mode is started areset. For example, when the portable electronic device 100 starts a powersaving mode, the power saving level may limit the maximum operationfrequencies of the CPU and the GPU of the application that is executedin the foreground and may optimally set display data transmission rate,brightness, resolution, and the like. Table 1 represents an example of apower saving level table 163 for a first application stored in thestorage unit 160.

TABLE 1 Power saving levels Classification Items LOW MIDDLE HIGH AUTOFirst CPU 1.8 GHz 1.5 GHz 1.2 GHz 1.8 GHz application GPU 266 MHz 177MHz 177 MHz 266 MHz FPS 60 fps 40 fps 30 fps 30 fps BRIGHTNESS −20 cd/m²−40 cd/m² −60 cd/m² 0 cd/m² HAPTIC ◯ X ◯ X

In Table 1, the CPU row denotes a maximum operation frequency of a CPUoperated in a power saving mode, the GPU row denotes a maximum operationfrequency of a GPU, FPS denotes a display refresh rate in units ofFrames Per Second (FPS), BRIGHTNESS denotes brightness in units ofcandela (cd) per square meter, and HAPTIC denotes a haptic reaction. Forexample, when a power saving mode is started, the controller 170inquires the power saving level table 163 if it is identified that thefirst application is executed in the foreground, and if it is identifiedthat a power saving level of the first application is set to a LOWlevel, the controller 170 may change a current operational state of theportable electronic device 100, in particular, an operation of the firstapplication such that a maximum operation frequency of the CPU is 1.8GHz, an operation frequency of the GPU is 266 MHz, a display refreshrate is 60 FPS, a brightness is 20cd/m², and a haptic reaction ismaintained.

In Table 1, the power saving level table 163 may be set such hat abattery usage level decreases as the power saving level goes from a LOWlevel toward a MIDDLE level and a HIGH level, and an AUTO level mayrefer to a level set such that a change in an operation of the CPU, theGPU, the FPS, the BRIGHTNESS, and the HAPTIC item is optimized.

Meanwhile, Table 1 is an example, and the technical spirit of thepresent disclosure is not limited thereto. That is, although it isexemplified that a power saving level table 163 in which the powersaving levels are classified into four power saving levels, that is,LOW, MIDDLE, HIGH, and AUTO levels, the power saving level table 163 mayset different power saving levels for all applications stored in thestorage unit 160. For example, presuming four applications are stored inthe storage unit 160, the first application may be set such that amaximum driving frequency of the CPU is 1.8 GHz, a maximum drivingfrequency of the GPU is 266 MHz when being set to a HIGH level, whereasthe second application may be set such that a maximum driving frequencyof the CPU is 1.5 GHz and a maximum driving frequency of the GPU is 450MHz when being set to a HIGH level. The LOW level of the thirdapplication may be set such that a maximum driving frequency of the CPUis 1.8 GHz and a maximum driving frequency of the GPU is 200 MHz, andthe AUTO level of the fourth application may be set such that a maximumdriving frequency of the CPU is 1.2 GHz and a maximum driving frequencyof the GPU is 200 MHz. The number of the power saving levels may befour, but also may be more than or less than four. For example, in Table1, EXTRA LOW and EXTRA HIGH levels may be set in addition to LOW,MIDDLE, HIGH, and AUTO levels.

In Table 1, although maximum driving frequencies of the CPU and the GPU,FPS, BRIGHTNESS, and HAPTIC are exemplified, the present disclosure isnot limited thereto. That is, the power saving level table 163 may setpower saving levels for a resolution and a background color of a screen,in addition to the four items. The power saving level table 163 may setactivation of various sensors in the sensor unit 140, for example, anacceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, and a geo-magnetic sensor.

The maximum driving frequencies of the CPU and the GPU, FPS, BRIGHTNESS,and HAPTIC of the power saving control table are set to a level whichdoes not cause inconvenience and may be determined at a suitable levelusing a trial-and-error method. For example, FPS and BRIGHTNESS may beset such that they do not cause an offensive feeling to the eyes of theuser even when display refresh rate and brightness are reduced.

The controller 170 may control an overall operation of the portableelectronic device 100 and a signal flow between internal components ofthe portable electronic device 100 and may perform a function ofprocessing data. The controller 170 may include at least one forcalculating and comparing materials, and analyzing and executinginstructions, and may include various registers for temporarily storingdata and instructions. The controller 170 includes at least one GPU. Inplace of the CPU, the GPU is a graphic control unit which performscalculations and comparisons of graphic-related data, and theinterpretation and execution of instructions, and the like. Each of theCPU and the GPU may be integrated into one package in which two or moreindependent cores (for example, quad-core) form a single integratedcircuit. That is, the CPUs may be integrated into one multi-coreprocessor. The GPUs also may be integrated into one multi-coreprocessor. The CPU and the GPU may be a SoC. Further, the CPU and theGPU may be packaged as a multi-layer. Meanwhile, a configurationincluding the CPU and the GPU may be referred to as an “AP.”

In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the controller 170 maystart a power saving mode. That is, if it is identified that atemperature of the portable electronic device 100 is a predeterminedtemperature or higher, or a battery usage level of the portableelectronic device 100 is a predetermined value or more, the controller170 may start a power saving mode.

In more detail, the controller 170 may receive temperature informationfrom at least temperature sensor 141 disposed in the portable electronicdevice 100, for example, at a predetermined point of a PCB, in thecontroller 170, at a location adjacent to the controller, and in variouscontrol units disposed for supporting a specific user function of theportable electronic device 100. The controller 170 may compare thereceived temperature and a preset specific temperature. Here, the presetspecific temperature is a temperature set for improving the emission ofheat, and may be set according to an intention of the user or thedesigner. For example, the user may set the specific temperature to 40°C., and the controller 170 may identify that a power saving mode isstarted if the received temperature is equal to or higher than 40° C.

The controller 170 may receive battery usage level information from thepower management unit 150, and may start a power saving mode if thereceived battery usage level is a predetermined level or higher. Thatis, the controller 170 may receive battery usage information (forexample, remaining battery level information, output voltageinformation, and output current information of a battery). Thecontroller 170 may make a compare a current battery usage level with apreset specific battery usage level, and start a power saving mode if itis identified that the current battery usage level is a preset specificlevel or higher. Here, the preset specific battery level may be setaccording to an intention of the user or the designer. For example, thespecific level may be set to 50% of the entire battery usage level. Thecontroller 170 may set a plurality of specific battery usage levels, andin this case, the controller 170 may control a touch screen such thatthe user provides a screen for selecting the specific battery usagelevels.

The controller 170 may identify at least one application that is beingexecuted in the foreground. That is, the controller 170 may identifywhich application is executed in the foreground of the current touchscreen and the battery usage share of the executed application.

In more detail, the controller 170 may identify an application executedin the foreground among the currently executed applications, and mayidentify a battery usage level consumed by the application executed fora predetermine time period. To achieve this, the controller 170 mayreceive a resource allocated to or task information processed by anapplication executed while the executed application is operated from asystem, for example, the CPU and the GPU, and may identify the batteryusage share of the executed application.

The controller 170 may identify a power saving level of the applicationexecuted in the foreground, and may make a control to change thesettings of an operation of the application according to the identifiedpower saving level. In more detail, the controller 170 may identify anapplication being executed in the foreground and a battery usage shareof the application. The controller 170 may identify a power savinglevel, which is set in the power saving level table 163, for anapplication having a high battery usage share among the applicationsexecuted in the foreground. For example, when an Internet browserapplication is executed in the foreground and the battery usage share ofthe Internet browser application is highest, a power saving level set tothe Internet browser application may be identified from the power savinglevel table 163. When two or more applications are executed in theforeground, the battery usage shares of the executed applications aresimilar, and the sum of the battery usage shares of the executedapplications is a specific value or more, power saving levels of theexecuted applications may be identified. For example, when a batteryusage share of the first application is 35%, a battery usage share ofthe second application is 33%, and the specific share is set to 50%, thepower saving levels of the first application and the second applicationmay be identified. The controller 170 may change the setting of anoperation of the application to an identified power saving level.

In addition, the above-described portable electronic device 100 mayfurther include an input unit including various keys for generation ofinput signals and an audio processor for processing audio signals.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart explaining a method of saving the power of aportable electronic device 100 according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

Referring to FIG. 2, in operation S201, the controller 170 may receivean event by an input of the user, and may execute at least oneapplication. For example, the controller 170 may execute variousapplications stored in the storage unit 160, and may execute at leastone application in various forms such as one page, a pop-up window form,a multi-window form, and a Picture In Picture (PIP) form.

In operation S203, the controller 170 may identify whether the portableelectronic device 100 satisfies a condition for starting a power savingmode. That is, if it is identified that a temperature of the portableelectronic device 100 is a predetermined temperature or higher, or abattery usage level of the portable electronic device 100 is apredetermined value or more, the controller 170 may start the powersaving mode.

In more detail, the controller 170 may receive temperature informationfrom at least one temperature sensor 141 disposed in the interior of theportable electronic device 100, for example, at a predetermined point ofa PCB, in the interior of a control unit constituting the controller170, at a location adjacent to the control unit, and in various controlunits disposed for supporting a specific user function. The controller170 may compare the received temperature and a preset temperature. Here,the preset specific temperature is a temperature set for improving theemission of heat, and may be set according to an intention of the useror the designer. The controller 170 may receive battery usage levelinformation from the power management unit 150, and may start a powersaving mode if the received battery usage level is a predetermined levelor higher. That is, the controller 170 may receive battery usageinformation (for example, remaining battery level information, outputvoltage information, and output current information of a battery). Thecontroller 170 may compare a current battery usage level with a presetspecific battery usage level and start a power saving mode if thecurrent battery usage level is a predetermined level or higher. Here,the preset specific battery level may be variously set according to anintention of the user or the designer. For example, the specific levelmay be set to 50% of the entire battery usage level. The controller 170may set a plurality of specific battery usage levels, and in this case,the controller 170 may control a touch screen such that the userprovides a screen for selecting the specific battery usage levels.

In operation S203, if it is determined that a condition for starting apower saving mode is not satisfied, the controller 170 may execute anormal operation, that is, an operation to which a power saving mode isnot applied in operation S205. That is, the controller 170 may make acontrol to maintain the current settings for an operation of the systemand a display operation.

In operation S207, the controller 170 may identify an applicationexecuted in the foreground. That is, the controller 170 may identifywhich application is executed in the foreground of the current touchscreen and the battery usage share of that application.

In more detail, the controller 170 may identify an application executedin the foreground among the currently executed applications and mayidentify a battery usage level consumed by the application executedduring a predetermined time period. To achieve this, the controller 170may receive a resource allocated to the application or task informationprocessed by the application executed associated with, for example, theCPU and the GPU, and may identify a battery usage share of the executedapplication.

In operation S209, the controller 170 may identify a power saving levelof the application identified in operation S207. For example, when anInternet browser application is executed in the foreground and a batteryusage share of the Internet browser application is highest, a powersaving level for the Internet browser application may be identified fromthe power saving level table 163. When two or more applications areexecuted in the foreground, the battery usage shares of the executedapplications are similar, and the sum of the battery usage shares of theexecuted applications is a specific value or more, power saving levelsof the executed applications may be identified. For example, when abattery usage share of the first application is 35%, a battery usageshare of the second application is 33%, and the specific share is set to50%, the power saving levels of the first application and the secondapplication may be identified.

In operation S211, the controller 170 may change settings of theoperation of the portable electronic device 100 to an application powersaving level identified in operation S209. For example, when a powersaving level is set to a MIDDLE level for the first application, thecontroller 170 may change settings of an operation of the firstapplication according to the MIDDLE level. For example, when a powersaving level is set to a HIGH level for the second application, thecontroller 170 may make a control to change settings of an operation ofthe second application according to the HIGH level.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart explaining a method of selecting a power savingmode of a portable electronic device according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 3, in operation S301, the controller 170 may identifywhether an event for setting a power saving mode is received. That is,the controller 170 may identify whether a power saving mode, that is, anevent for setting a plurality of power saving levels for each of theapplications, is selected by the user.

In operation S301, if it is identified that an event for setting a powersaving mode is not received, the controller 170 may execute a functioncorresponding to an event in operation S303.

Meanwhile, if it is identified that an event for setting a power savingmode is received in operation S301, the controller 170 may display alist of the applications stored in the storage unit 160.

In operation S307, the controller 170 may select at least oneapplication for setting a power saving level. Here, to set a powersaving level, the user may select all of the applications stored in thestorage unit 160, select a predetermined number of applications, orindividually select each of the applications.

In operation S307, if all or some of the applications stored in thestorage unit 160 are selected, the controller 170 may output a screenfor setting a power saving level for the selected application. If theuser selects a power saving level, for example, any one of LOW, MIDDLE,HIGH, and AUTO levels, the controller 170 may make a control to changesettings according to the selected levels.

FIG. 4 is a view explaining a method of selecting a power saving mode ofa portable electronic device according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

Referring to FIG. 4, reference numeral 401 denotes a power saving modesetting screen 400 provided for the user. The power saving mode settingscreen 400 includes an area 410 for turning on or off the power savingmode, an area 411 for selecting a power saving level, an area 420 forselecting all or some of the applications, and an application list 440stored in the storage unit 160.

Reference numeral 403 denotes a screen 400 for selecting a power savinglevel. That is, reference numeral 403 denotes a screen 400 displayedwhen some application selection boxes in the area 420 are selected andan area 411 for selecting a power saving level is selected. For example,in FIG. 4, the first application and the second application 430 areselected to set their respective power saving level.

A plurality of power saving level selection areas 460, 470, 480, and 490for the selected application are displayed through a popup window 450,and a state in which a current AUTO level selection area 460 isdisplayed. If the user selects an identification button display in anidentification/cancel area 491, the controller 170 may set a powersaving level to an AUTO level for the first application and the secondapplication.

As discussed above, the method and apparatus for saving power of aportable electronic device 100 according to various embodiments of thepresent disclosure can set power saving levels according to anapplication and change operation settings to a preset power saving levelif a power saving mode is started, thereby emission of heat anddecreasing battery usage level.

Meanwhile, the above-mentioned electronic device 100 may further includevarious and additional modules according to their type. That is, theterminal may further include configurations, such as a short distancecommunication module for short distance communications, an interface fortransmitting and receiving data by a wired or wireless communicationscheme of the portable electronic device 100, an Internet communicationmodule for performing an Internet function through communication with anInternet network, and a digital broadcasting module for receiving andreproducing digital broadcasts, which have not been described above.These elements may be variously modified according to the convergencetrend of digital devices, and cannot be all enumerated. However, theelectronic device 100 may further include elements equivalent to theabove-described elements. Also, in the portable terminal 100, aparticular configuration may be excluded from the above-describedconfiguration or may be replaced by another configuration according tovarious embodiments of the present disclosure. This may be easilyunderstood by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosurepertains.

While the present disclosure has been shown and described with referenceto various embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilledin the art that various changes in form and details may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure asdefined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

1. A portable communication device comprising: a touchscreen display; amemory configured to store a plurality of applications; and a processorconfigured to: display, via the touchscreen display, a user interfaceincluding a list of a plurality of items, at least one of the pluralityof items including an indication of at least one application of theplurality of applications, and a graphic user interface (GUI) elementassociated with the at least one application, receive, via thetouchscreen display, a user input with respect to the GUI element, andin response to the user input, change an operation setting with respectto the at least one application from a first setting to a secondsetting, wherein a first power consumption corresponding to the firstsetting is different from a second power consumption corresponding tothe second setting.
 2. The portable communication device of claim 1,wherein the processor is further configured to: display an identifier ofthe at least one application as at least part of the indication.
 3. Theportable communication device of claim 1, wherein the plurality ofapplications comprise an application to provide a social networkingservice.
 4. The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein theprocessor is further configured to: identify one or more applicationsbeing executed in a foreground as the at least one application.
 5. Theportable communication device of claim 1, wherein the processor isfurther configured to: after entering a power saving mode with respectto the portable communication device, change an operation state withrespect to the at least one application based at least in part on thechange of the operation setting.
 6. The portable communication device ofclaim 5, wherein the processor is further configured to: change anoperation frequency of a central processing unit or a graphic processingunit as at least part of the changing of the operation state.
 7. Theportable communication device of claim 1, further comprising: a battery;and a battery gage configured to measure usage information related tothe battery, and wherein the processor is further configured to: if theusage information of the battery satisfies a specified condition, entera power saving mode with respect to the portable communication devicewhile the at least one application is executed.
 8. The portablecommunication device of claim 1, wherein the user interface includesanother GUI element associated with the plurality of applications, andwherein the processor is further configured to: receive another userinput with respect to the other GUI element, and turn on or off a powersaving mode with respect to the plurality of applications.
 9. A portablecommunication device comprising: a touchscreen display; a memoryconfigured to store a plurality of applications; and a processor furtherconfigured to: display, via a touchscreen display, a first userinterface including a list of a plurality of items and at least one ofthe plurality of items including an indication of at least oneapplication of the plurality of applications, receive, via thetouchscreen display, a user input with respect to the at least one ofthe plurality of items, in response to the user input, display, via thetouchscreen display, a second user interface associated with the atleast one application, the second user interface including at least oneselectable graphic user interface (GUI) element indicative of aplurality of power saving levels, select at least one power saving levelfrom the plurality of power saving levels based at least in part onanother user input with respect to the at least one selectable GUIelement, and change an operation setting with respect to the at leastone application based at least in part on the at least one power savinglevel.
 10. The portable communication device of claim 9, wherein theprocessor is further configured to: display an identifier of the atleast one application as at least part of the indication.
 11. Theportable communication device of claim 9, wherein the plurality ofapplications include a mobile game application.
 12. The portablecommunication device of claim 9, wherein the processor is furtherconfigured to: change a setting corresponding to a resolution or a framerate as at least part of the changing of the operation setting.
 13. Theportable communication device of claim 9, wherein the processor isfurther configured to: identify one or more applications being executedin a foreground.
 14. The portable communication device of claim 13,wherein the processor is further configured to: change a resolution ofthe portable communication device for the one or more applications basedat least in part on a determination that the one or more applicationscorrespond to the at least one application.
 15. The portablecommunication device of claim 9, wherein the processor is furtherconfigured to: after entering a power saving mode with respect to theportable communication device, change a resolution or a frame of theportable communication device for the at least one application based atleast in part on the change of the operation setting.
 16. The portablecommunication device of claim 9, further comprising: a battery; and abattery gage configured to measure usage information related to thebattery, and wherein the processor is adapted to: if the usageinformation of the battery satisfies a specified condition, enter apower saving mode with respect to the portable communication devicewhile the at least one application is executed.
 17. A portablecommunication device comprising: a touchscreen display; and a processorfurther configured to: display, via the touchscreen display, a userinterface including at least one selectable graphic user interface (GUI)element indicative of a plurality of power saving levels; select atleast one power saving level from the plurality of power saving levelsbased at least in part on a user input with respect to the at least oneselectable GUI element; and change an operation setting with respect tothe portable communication device based at least in part on the at leastone power saving level.
 18. The portable communication device of claim17, further comprising a battery, and wherein the processor is furtherconfigured to: display a plurality of battery levels related to thebattery as at least part of the plurality of power saving levels. 19.The portable communication device of claim 17, further comprising: abattery; and a battery gage to measure usage information related to thebattery, and wherein the processor is further configured to: if theusage information of the battery satisfies a specified condition, entera power saving mode with respect to the portable communication devicewhile the at least one application is executed.
 20. The portablecommunication device of claim 19, wherein the processor is furtherconfigured to: enter the power saving mode based at least in part on adetermination that the usage information is equal to or higher than theat least one power saving level as part of the specified condition.